"Much Ado About You" by Eloisa James

Much Ado About You by Eloisa James 2005

"Much Ado About You" is the first book in the Essex Sisters series. At the opening of this book, the reader finds that the four daughters of Scottish Viscount Brydone, who is recently deceased, are moving in with their guardian, Raphael Jourdain, the Duke of Holbrook. While a good man at heart, "Rafe" is a terrible alcoholic, and not the best role-model for four growing girls. This book follows Teresa (Tess) Essex, the oldest daughter. Feeling it important to marry for the sake of her younger sisters, Tess finds herself engaged to Garret Langham, the Earl of Mayne. Good-hearted, but a total rake, Mayne is marrying her mostly for the sake of the horse that is her dowry. In the meantime, her lovesick little sister, Imogen, elopes to Gretna Green with a man she has been in love with since childhood (but who is, in fact, a bit daft). And to complicate things further Tess also discovers that there is a mutual attraction between herself and the quiet, seemingly emotionless Lucius Felton...

I enjoyed this book. What I found most interesting looking back on it was that while very, very, very little actually happens in this book by way of plot, it was incredibly enjoyable and a fast read. The interaction between the sisters is charming - they each have distinctly different personalities and are all at least moderately well developed by the end of this first installment. The Earl of Mayne is also a fun character. The only problem is that the one character we want to like is somewhat poorly developed. While I am quite fond of Lucius Felton, it is hard to know him, and his relationship with Tess seems a bit forced and seems to spring out of nowhere. Eloisa James' writing is fun and witty, and I found myself giggling at points simply due to James' writing style. As in many of Eloisa James' books, there are two love stories happening simultaneously - Tess's, which is primary, and then the love story between Draven and Imogen. While in some of her other books I find the secondary love story distracting, I did not feel that way in "Much Ado About You."

A good read.

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